Country sensation Jake Owen brings his ‘beach’ to O’Dome

Jake Owen’s current tour, which plays the O’Dome Thursday night, features a set designed like a beach complete with tiki huts. (The Associated Press)

Staff and wire report

Published: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 10:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 10:39 a.m.

Country star Jake Owen hails from Vero Beach, and with recent No. 1 hit “Beachin’ ” cresting the charts for much of the summer, Owen’s current tour is designed like a beachfront oasis — complete with hands-on opportunities for some lucky fans.

Owen’s “Days of Gold” tour, which plays the O’Connell Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, has drawn packed crowds in cities across the South including Nashville, New Orleans and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Owen’s invitation to enjoy his “beach” has included pulling fans up to stand onstage for the show, according to The Tuscaloosa News.

At Owen’s Aug. 21 concert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, the entire stage was designed as a beach and included two tiki bars, which the singer reportedly at one point pulled fans up out of the audience to stand behind.

Named after his fourth album, “Days of Gold,” the tour features other songs from the album along with such previous No. 1 hits as “The One That Got Away,” “Anywhere With You ” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”

And some dates on the tour, including Tuscaloosa, have featured covers of such tunes as Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” Drake’s “Just Hold On We’re Going Home” and even Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”

“I love throwing parties,” Owen said in a released statement. “This tour is one big party, and everyone is invited. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the road and learn from incredible artists like (Kenny) Chesney, (Tim) McGraw and (Jason) Aldean. I’m really proud of this tour and can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store.”

Born in Winter Haven, Owen grew up in Vero Beach, his oceanside home town that remains his No. 1 place to be in the world, he recently told People magazine. “It’s where all my coastal-living ways and beach ideas come from because that’s how I grew up,” he said. “I literally grew up on the beach every day. I just like my feet in the sand.”

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